Programmable fuel dispensing system

• US 20050242110A1
• Filed: 05/03/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eric S. Waugh, Jerry Nelson
• Original Assignee: Eric S. Waugh, Jerry Nelson
• Inventors: Waugh, Eric S., Nelson, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US10/838,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20050242110A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/71
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/08 Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred arrangement of flow- or pressure-control valves B67D7/36; computing, calculating, counting G06; coin-freed apparatus for dispensing fluids G07F13/00; prepayment devices for metering liquids G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/12 operated by movement of delivery hose or nozzle or by devices associated therewith
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/3209 relating to spillage or leakage, e.g. spill containments, leak detection leak detectors for underground fuel dispensing systems G01M3/2892

Abstract

A centralized fuel or fuel monitoring, control and dispensing system operating under the control of a modern solid state programmable logic controller (PLC) that provides control options with capabilities far exceeding those available from relay logic systems. The system also incorporates compliance with the latest EPA mandates by accepting inputs from water and gasoline sensors that monitor the condition of the required “tank within a tank” dual storage tanks. If a fault condition is detected, the system will force a safety shutdown in the affected part of the installation. The PLC provides centralized monitoring, controlling and reporting functions to the operators of fuel dispensing operations such as self-service gas station complexes and fuel depots. Remote monitoring and programming of the PLC is provided by an internal modem through any available communications link.

Claims

1. A solid state programmable fuel dispensing and control system comprising;

at least one fuel tank;

at least one fuel dispenser connected to said fuel tank;

at least one contactor for activating pumping of fuel to said at least one fuel dispenser;

a solid state programmable logic controller connected to said at least one contactor programmed to activate said at least one contactor when a signal is received from a fuel dispenser.

2. The system according to claim 1 in which said at least one fuel tank comprises a plurality of fuel tanks to provide multiple grades of fuel.

3. The system according to claim 2 including fault sensors connected to each of said plurality of tanks, said fault sensors transmitting a signal to said programmable logic controller to prohibit operation of said at least one contactor if a fault condition is detected.

4. The system according to claim 3 in which said fault sensor detects fuel leakage and sends a signal to prohibit dispensing of fuel.

5. The system according to claim 3 in which said fault sensor detects water leaking into said fuel tank and sends a signal to said programmable logic controller to prohibit dispensing of fuel.

6. The system according to claim 5 in which each of said plurality of tanks has a fault sensor.

7. The system according to claim 4 in which each of said plurality of tanks has a fault sensor.

8. The system according to claim 1 in which said programmable logic controller is programmed to control lights at a fuel station.

9. The system according to claim 8 in which a photo sensor is connected to said programmable logic controller, said photo sensor sending a signal to said programmable logic controller to turn lights on at dusk.

10. The system according to claim 8 including a timer to control lights at a fuel station, said timer being connected to said programmable logic controller to turn lights on and off at specified times.

11. The system according to claim 8 including a photo sensor and a timer, said photo sensor and timer working in conjunction with each other to turn fuel station lights on and off.

12. The system according to claim 3 including a separate fault sensor associated with each fuel tank.